How does hair removal with Lumea work?
The Lumea uses IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology, which works by heating up the pigment (melanin) in the hair and root underneath the skin. This stimulates the hair to go into its resting phase. The hair then sheds naturally, leaving your skin silky-smooth.

Repeated regularly, the resting phase lasts longer and hairs will not grow back.

What’s the difference between Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and laser treatment?
IPL emits light of all visible wavelengths (like a photo flash) while laser emits a single beam of light at a specific wavelength (like a laser pointer). For hair removal, IPL and laser are equally effective. However, laser is a more expensive technology than IPL and usually requires a longer treatment time, as the treatment window size is smaller than with IPL devices.

Should I shave before treatment?
Yes, you should shave before the first treatment to achieve best results. You can also shave epilate.

How often do I have to repeat the treatments? Do I need to keep using Philips Lumea once I am smooth?
To remove all hair successfully, and to prevent the hair follicle from becoming active again, the treatments should be repeated once every two weeks for the first two months. Optimal results are generally achieved after four to five treatments. To maintain results, repeat treatments every four to eight weeks.

Does the treatment hurt?
In clinical trials, no women rated the experience as painful, providing that the correct settings according to skin tone and hair color were used and instructions followed. To get accustomed to Philips Lumea, it is recommended that you make test flashes near the area you are intend to treat, using the lowest recommended light setting. Once you are comfortable with this you can increase the light setting, step-by-step if necessary. Hair can sometimes burn during treatment.

Is the Lumea suitable for my skin tone and hair color?
The Lumea is not suitable and in some cases unsafe for certain skin and hair types. Please use this chart to determine whether the Lumea will work for you.

Can I use the appliance in the shower or bathtub?
No. Do not use Philips Lumea on wet skin or allow the device to become wet.

Are there any further costs?
There are no hidden or further costs to the Lumea.

At what age can I use Philips Lumea?
The appliance is not intended for children younger than 15 years. Teenagers aged between 15 till 18 years can use the appliance with the consent and/or assistance of their parents or the persons who have parental authority over them. Adults from 18 years and older can use the appliance freely.

Can I use Lumea while I am pregnant or breast-feeding?
No. Philips Lumea is not designed or tested for usage during pregnancy or breastfeeding and should therefore not be used in these cases. Philips worked with leading dermatologists to develop Lumea and they have advised not to use Lumea, or any other light-based hair removal method, during pregnancy or breast feeding as precautionary measure to avoid any side effects.

Can Philips Lumea be used for a full bikini area depilation?
Yes. Philips Lumea is safe and gentle enough to treat the entire bikini area. On darker pigmented, more sensitive areas of the pubic area, use a lower setting. Do not use on mucous membranes (inner labia, vagina and anus).

Can I use the Philips Lumea IPL hair removal system in combination with contraceptives?
Yes, the Philips Lumea IPL hair removal system can be used in combination with contraceptives such as:

contraceptive coil

contraceptive vaginal ring

contraceptive patch

contraceptive implant

contraceptive pill

The function of your contraceptive should not be compromised by the IPL hair removal treatment.

What is the difference between Slide & Flash and Step & Flash mode?
To make the application as easy and comfortable as possible, Philips Lumea offers two different application modes:

Slide & Flash mode is for large areas (e. g. legs). You do not have to lift off the appliance between flashes instead you slide over the skin while holding the flash button pressed throughout the application; just slide the appliance and it will flash as you go. This makes the treatment of large areas easier and faster.

Step & Flash mode is for small and bony areas, which are more difficult to treat (e. g. knees, armpits). Place the appliance on the skin, release a flash, lift off the appliance from the skin and move on to the next close area.

What happens if the lamp in the appliance fails?
Philips Lumea is equipped with a high performance lamp, which does not require replacement. The lamp enables you to continuously maintain results for many years*. When you face any issues with your Philips Lumea, simply contact the Philips Consumer Care center.

*Based on average usage scenario for one user.

How often do I have to repeat the treatments? Do I need to keep using Philips Lumea, once I am smooth?
To remove all hairs successfully and prevent the hair follicle from becoming active again, the treatments have to be repeated once every two weeks for the first two months. Your skin should be smooth and hair-free by then. Our studies have shown a significant hair reduction already after two treatments.
Optimal results were generally achieved after four to five treatments.

To maintain results and prevent the hair root from becoming active again, it is necessary to repeat treatments regularly to keep your skin smooth and hair-free. If the treatment is interrupted, the hair follicle will re-activate and hair will start to grow back. To maintain results, repeat treatments every four to eight weeks, this will ensure that the hair root stays inactive and hair regrowth is inhibited. The time between treatments may vary based on your individual hair growth.

If too many hairs grow back between treatments, simply shorten the treatment interval again, but do not treat more often than once every two weeks.

When you use the appliance more frequently than recommended, you do not increase the effectiveness but you do increase the risk of skin reactions.

Can I use Lumea on moles or freckles?
No, do not use Philips Lumea directly on or close to moles or freckles.
If there is a mole/freckle in the area you want to treat, flash around the mole/freckle and not over it.

Do I need to use gels for treatment?
Philips Lumea comes ready to use out of the box and does not require any replacement lamps, cartridges or gels.

Didn’t find your answer?
Contact our customer service team at 0 20 79 49 02 40 and get personal help for all your product related questions.

Do I need to wear safety goggles?
No. Unlike professional salon laser treatment, it is not necessary to wear safety goggles when using the Lumea. Light produced by the Lumea is only visible when it is reflected by your skin. It’s as safe as the flash of a camera. Best of all, the integrated safety system prevents flashing when not fully in contact with the skin. We recommend using the Lumea in a well-lit room to reduce the perceived brightness of the flash.